Portable siphon apparatus

ABSTRACT

Portable siphon apparatus for transferring a quantity of liquid from a liquid source to a container. A container is provided having a volume sufficient to hold a desired quantity of siphoned liquid. The container volume is in selective communication with a conduit having a remote end for immersion into a liquid to be siphoned. The conduit end in communication with the container is selectively closable from fluid communication with the interior of the container, and a pump is operable to lower the air pressure within the closed conduit to initiate siphon action.

United States Patent Stewart, Jr.

Aug. 5, 1975 1 1 PORTABLE SIPHON APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Tobias Stewart, Jr., PO. Box 10A, Gray. Ga, 31032 [22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 329,191

[52] US. Cl. 1. 141/323 [51] Int. Cl. ,1 B65B 3/04; B65B 3/06 [581 Field of Search 141/25, 28. 323, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 773,511 10/1904 Locke 141/323 1.036822 8/1912 Freenamm. 141/26 2,693,000 11/1954 Minerly H 141/25 2.795.245 6/1957 Meehan 141/76 3,774,655 11/1973 Trusselle 141/46 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-A. Jason Mirabito [57] ABSTRACT Portable siphon apparatus for transferring a quantity of liquid from a liquid source to a container. A container is provided having a volume sufficient to hold a desired quantity of siphoned liquid. The container volume is in selective communication with a conduit having a remote end for immersion into a liquid to be siphoned. The conduit end in communication with the container is selectively closable from fluid communication with the interior of the container, and a pump is operable to lower the air pressure within the closed conduit to initiate siphon action.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PORTABLE SlPHON APPARATUS This invention relates in general to siphon apparatus and in particular to a portable siphon which includes a siphon starting pump and a container to receive siphoned liquid.

The general principle of the liquid siphon is widely known and finds many applications in liquid flow devices. Generally speaking, the liquid siphon principle is understood to apply to the technique of establishing a self-sustaining gravity flow of liquid from a source through a conduit and along an upward gradient from the source to an outlet at a level which is below the level of the liquid in the source.

The siphon principle frequently is used by persons whose automobile has run out of fuel and who find it necessary to siphon fuel from the tank of another automobile, presumably owned by a friend, into a container. Siphoning of gasoline from automotive fuel tanks is also frequently done to provide a convenient source of fuel to operate small gasoline engines, such as on lawnmowers, minibikes, and the like, so that it is unnecessary to assume the risk and inconvenience of keeping a small quantity of gasoline stored around ones premises for operating such engines.

Such fuel siphoning usually is accomplished by inserting one end of a length of hose or tubing into the tank containing fuel or other liquid to be siphoned, and then by placing the other end of the hose or tube into a persons mouth. The person then reduces the air pressure within the tube by the simple expedient of sucking air from the tube, until the tube is substantially filled with fuel or other liquid forced into the tube by the atmospheric pressure acting on the liquid being siphoned. At this time, the person must remove the other end of the tube from his mouth and place this end in a receptacle positioned below the level of the liquid in the tank or other container being siphoned. lt is apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing procedure has numerous disadvantages, the most frequent being the near-inevitability that the person sucking on the hose will get a mouthful of whatever liquid is being siphoned. In addition to this unpleasantness, the foregoing procedure is generally awkward and frequently results in a quantity of the fuel or other liquid being spilled or otherwise unnecessarily discharged. This opportunity for spillage not only is generally messy and unsightly, but also produces a substantial hazard of fire or explosion in the case of fuel siphoning operations.

While apparatus has been proposed for the purpose of withdrawing quantities of liquid from containers, and for the specific purpose of removing fuel from a fuel tank, such apparatus frequently takes the form of a pump which is operative to withdraw a predetermined measure or quantity of liquid. While such devices are useful, the maximum measure of liquid which can be withdrawn is frequently less than the total amount desired. Moreover, such devices must be completely removed from the liquid source for subsequent discharge into a separate container before the device can again be used to withdraw another measure of liquid. Other liquid removal devices proposed in the art have generally been found disadvantageous to manufacture and/or use, and have not met with widespread acceptance.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable siphon apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide portable siphon apparatus including a siphon starting pump.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide portable siphon apparatus wherein the siphon action is initiated relatively quickly and without the risk of spillage.

Other objects as well as many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following discussion of the disclosed embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an overall pictorial view of the disclosed embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section view of the disclosed embodiment.

Stated in general terms, the portable siphon apparatus of the present invention includes a receptacle to receive the liquid being siphoned, a conduit extending from selective communication with the receptacle to a remotely-situated end for immersion in a source of liquid, a selectively-terminable fluid flow interconnection between the conduit and the receptacle, and a device for partially evacuating air from the conduit. Closure of the fluid interconnection between the conduit and the receptacle enables siphon action by partial evacuation only of the relatively small air volume within the conduit, rather than the relatively larger total volume including the volume of the liquid receptacle.

The present invention may be better understood with reference to a particular embodiment thereof as shown in the Figures, wherein is shown portable siphon apparatus indicated generally at 10 and including a container 11 having a hollow interior 12 to define a receptacle for receiving a liquid. The container 11 is provided with a pouring spout l3 and an additional opening 14 in communication with the interior 12. A suitable carrying device such as the handle 15 or the like may conveniently be attached to the container ll. As will become more apparent, the container ll may be provided by presently available liquid containers with relatively minor modifications.

A siphon conduit 19 is positioned to have a first end 20 positioned within the interior of the spout l3, preferably at a distance spaced inwardly from the open end 21 of the spout. It is essential in the disclosed embodiment that the other diameter of the conduit 19, or at least that portion of the conduit received within the spout 13, be sufficiently less than the inner diameter of the spout to permit a flow of liquid between the spout and the conduit. The first end 20 of the conduit may be positioned and maintained within the spout [3 by way of one or more spacing members 22, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such spacing members, if provided, must be apertured or otherwise formed to allow liquid to flow between the conduit and the inner wall of the spout.

The conduit 19 extends downwardly from the spout into the interior of the container ll and then passes upwardly through the opening 14 to terminate at a second end 23. Although not specifically shown in the Figures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the conduit 19 should be sufficiently long to allow the second end 23 to be immersed in a supply of liquid to be siphoned. Thus, the portion of the conduit l9 extending outwardly of the opening 14 may be several feet or more in length, if necessary, to allow the second end 23 to extend within an automotive fuel filler pipe for immersion of the end 23 within the fuel tank.

An air pump device 27 is provided for selective communication with the first end of the conduit 19. The air pump 27, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, may conveniently take the form of a pump including a flexible squeeze bulb 28 having one-way check valves 29 and 33 in communication with the hollow interior of the squeeze bulb and additionally having a preferably rigid extension member in communication with the squeeze bulb interior and extending outwardly to an end 31 which is tapered or otherwise dimensioned to be received within the first end 20 of the conduit 19. The end 31 of the extension member must fit within the first end 20 of the conduit or otherwise engage this first end, to insure that fluid communication between the first end of the conduit and the interior of the spout, and thus the interior 12 of the container 11, is terminated while the extension member 30 of the air pump 27 engages the conduit.

Considering the operation of the herein-described embodiment of the present invention, the second end 23 of the conduit 19 is disposed in a body of liquid to be siphoned and the container 11 is positioned so that the first end 20 of the conduit is lower than the liquid level of the liquid being siphoned. The air pump 27 is then positioned by inserting the extension member 30 within the end 21 of the spout to place the end 31 of the extension member into air-tight engagement with the first end 20 of the conduit 19. The air pump 27 is then operated by repetitive squeezing and releasing of the squeeze bulb 28, with the result that the air pressure normally present within the interior of the conduit 19 is partially exhausted through the squeeze bulb and the check valve 29 into the surrounding atmosphere. Operation of the air pump 27 continues until the air pressure within the conduit 19 is lowered to that point which allows liquid to be withdrawn from the source of liquid and introduced in the conduit 19, thereby initiating siphon action. As soon as siphon action is initiated, the operation of the air pump 27 is terminated and the fluid flow connection between the first end 20 of the conduit and the interior 12 of the container 11 is reestablished through the simple expedient of withdrawing the air pump extension end 31 from the first end of the conduit. At this time, assuming that the first end 20 is positioned lower than the level of the liquid being si phoned, siphon action causes the liquid flowing through the tube 19 to exit the open end 20, whereupon the siphoned liquid flows by gravity downwardly within the spout 13 to be received within the interior [2 of the container. While it is possible that some amount of liquid will be initially drawn into the air pump 27, this liquid simply is allowed to drain into the spout 13 by maintaining the end 31, once withdrawn from the first end 20 of the conduit, within the spout 13, until all of such liquid has drained from the pump.

The siphoning action continues until terminated by any suitable procedure, such as raising the container 11 to bring the open end 20 of the conduit above the elevation of the liquid being siphoned, or by pinching off or otherwise obstructing the conduit 19 to terminate liquid flow. The second end 23 of the conduit can then be withdrawn from the liquid being siphoned. When it is desired to pour the siphoned liquid 32 from the container l], the container is inverted in the usual manner to place the open end 21 of the spout in pouring relation so that the liquid 32 flows through the spout past the space between the spout inner wall and the conduit 19.

Although the disclosed embodiment of the present invention is especially configured for construction in combination with a container 11 of a type which may be commercially available in many locales, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to construction and use in combina tion with such containers. If an embodiment of the present invention is constructed and designed in combination with a different type of container, for example, it may be desired to place an air pump, the first end of the conduit, and a selective fluid flow connection in a container-communicating region other than within the pouring spout of the container. it remains important to the effective operation of the present invention, however, that the fluid communication between the first end 20 of the conduit be selectively terminable, whether by insertion of an air pump extension or otherwise, so that it becomes necessary to pump air out of only the relatively small volume of the conduit 19, rather than out of a relatively far greater volume including the interior 12 of the container.

Moreover, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous alterations and modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiment of the present invention without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Siphon apparatus comprising:

receptacle means for receiving a quantity of liquid and including a pouring spout in communication with said receptacle means, said pouring spout being positioned at an upper location on said receptacle means and having a pouring opening;

a fluid conduit having a proximal end within said pouring spout in spaced apart relation therewith to provide liquid flow communication between said receptacle means and said pouring opening and having a distal end for communication with a source of liquid to be siphoned, said proximal end being disposed within said spout inwardly of said pouring opening and facing toward said pouring opening; and

pump means enterable into said pouring spout from a position outside of said pouring opening for selective fluid flow engagement with said proximal end of said fluid conduit and operable to reduce atmospheric pressure within said fluid conduit at least to an extent causing the introduction of liquid from the source through said conduit to said pouring spout for introduction into said receptacle means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said receptacle has an aperture therein in addition to said pouring spout, and said fluid conduit extends from said proximal end inwardly of said spout and into said receptacle and then exits said receptacle through said additional aperture.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said pump means includes an extension member having a fluid passageway and dimensioned for said entry into and for removal from said pouring spout from a position outside of said pouring opening, said extension member having a portion operative to be received in said proximal end of said fluid conduit to establish fluid flow between said fluid passageway and the fluid conduit and to terminate fluid flow communication between the fluid conduit and the interior of said spout, and means in fluid com munication with the fluid passageway of said member for withdrawing air therefrom.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said means for withdrawing air comprises a squeeze bulb pump. 

1. Siphon apparatus comprising: receptacle means for receiving a quantity of liquid and including a pouring spout in communication with said receptacle means, said pouring spout being positioned at an upper location on said receptacle means and having a pouring opening; a fluid conduit having a proximal end within said pouring spout in spaced apart relation therewith to provide liquid flow communication between said receptacle means and said pouring opening and having a distal end for communication with a source of liquid to be siphoned, said proximal end being disposed within said spout inwardly of said pouring opening and facing toward said pouring opening; and pump means enterable into said pouring spout from a position outside of said pouring opening for selective fluid flow engagement with said proximal end of said fluid conduit and operable to reduce atmospheric pressure within said fluid conduit at least to an extent causing the introduction of liquid from the source through said conduit to said pouring spout for introduction into said receptacle means.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said receptacle has an aperture therein in addition to said pouring spout, and said fluid conduit extends from said proximal end inwardly of said spout and into said receptacle and then exits said receptacle through said additional aperture.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said pump means includes an extension member having a fluid passageway and dimensioned for said entry into and for removal from said pouring spout from a position outside of said pouring opening, said extension member having a portion operative to be received in said proximal end of said fluid conduit to establish fluid flow between said fluid passageway and the fluid conduit and to terminate fluid flow communication between the fluid conduit and the interior of said spout, and means in fluid communication with the fluid passageway of said member for withdrawing air therefrom.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said means for withdrawing air comprises a squeeze bulb pump. 